The Georgia Lottery has become one of the most popular state lotteries in the US, reaching an average of over $ 1 billion annually, of which one-third goes to strengthen state education funding. The Georgia Lottery is operated by the Georgia Lottery Corporation, created through the Lottery for Education Act in November 1992. From the beginning the Georgia Lottery was a big success, exceeding its first year sales goal of $ 463 million in just five months and ending 1993 with $ 1.1 billion in total sales, which made it the most successful state lottery start-up in history.
The Georgia Lottery runs a number of games, including Cash 3, Cash 4, Georgia 5, Fantasy 5, Keno and Georgia Lottery Win for Life. In Cash 3, you pick three numbers from one to zero per game and can play $ 0.50 or $ 1.00 per game; you then pick from a number of play types ranging from straight (you win if you pick the exact number combination drawn) to pairs (in which you win if you get the first or last two winning numbers in exact order your combination). Cash 4 works in a similar fashion but you pick a four-number combination. Both games are drawn twice daily, in the afternoon and the evening.
The Georgia 5 is another game with two-a-day drawings. You pick five numbers on the play area of the playslip and you win the jackpot of $ 10,000 if your number matches the drawn numbers in exact order. If you do not match five numbers but match four up to one numbers in exact order and position, you can win consolation prizes ranging from $ 225 to $ 1. Each game is $ 1 per play and you can play up to five games in each playslip. You can also play the same numbers for up to seven consecutive draws.
In the Fantasy 5 game, you pick 5 out of 39 numbers on the play area of the playslip. You win the top prize if you successfully match all five numbers with winning number combination; you can also win minor cash prizes if you match four or three numbers. If you match two, you get a fantasy 5 Quik Pik ticket (the computer picks the numbers). Each game is $ 1; for an additional $ 1 you can choose the eZmatch play option, in which you will instantly win a cash prize if your numbers match any of the eZmatch numbers; you can win up to five times on each ticket.
The Georgia Lottery Win for Life game offers a unique payoff for winners of the top prize: $ 1,000 a week for the rest of the winner's life. All you have to do is select six numbers from 1 to 42 from the play area of the playslip; each playslip allows you to play up to five times, with each game costing $ 1. The lottery draws six numbers plus a seventh "Free Ball" number. To win the top prize, all you have to do is match all six numbers. If your combination matches five numbers plus the Free Ball number, you win $ 1,000 a week for a year. You can win consulation prizes if you get five to three numbers, with the cash prizes increasing if the Free Ball is part of your winning combination.